Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1887-07-18

hour was consumed in the descent.
Then they got into the buggy and
turned homeward, but not on the
road leading past brakes.
1--WE want 70 see ali that can be
seen, don't we p said Dick.
by all means, answered his wife,
as she tied her hat loosely and pre-
pared to enjoy the drive home. "But
didn't your father tell you 10 90 home
BY Drake's:''
The other road is the better
road"
You know best, Dick"
Dicks mare went at slapping
pace. ''She smells oats. said Dick.
Look at Pringie's Flat. Dick"
Pretty, isn't il =
There's not leaf stirring, one
would think. Ii looks 50 restful over
there 1t might be a deserted village"
1T does look unusually quiet, now
notice. But then this sun is terri
ble. See if you can't find our house
over there, Mary"
There was long silence, then the
young wife gIeefully pointed out the
house. and there was another long 81
lenee, which was broken by Mrs.
Hope, saying suddenly, "What Is
that curious sound | hear."
Il hear nothing"
There do YOU hear it now:'
Dick inclined an ear. They were
fairly clear of the rough land at the
back of Dams Rock now, and the
mare was trotting rapidly. Sudden
" her drivers firm hand brought her
upon her launches. Dick listened
intently. His wife was right; her
ears were keener than his. There
was something in the air.
At that instant Mary's hand clutch
ed his arm convulsively as she cried
out, ''Oh. Dick, what is that back Of
u.s." She was looking back with hot
ror-stricken eyes and pale lips.
Dick turned. A cloud like a black
wall was rushing down on them; il
seemed TO Dick Hopes eyes as
black as ink. An awful fear pos
sessed him. There was a hush. a
stiffness in the air as chilling as the
terrible cloud behind them. $50
long - he exclaimed desperately, cut
ting the mare fiercely with the whip.
The mare shot out like an arrow,
and at that moment another sound
smote their ears-a sound that was
ike the crash OF worlds The mare
plunged, reared. then resumed her
onward course. Her owner had lost
control over her.
But one thought animated Dick
Hope as he clasped his wife with his
right arm while he held fast 10 the
reins with his left hand, shutting his
teeth like a vice. That thought was,
PRAY God we may reach the river
bottom -
The earth groaned under their feet.
A sound like the rush and roar and
scream OF a million locomotives deaf
ened them. Dick Hope instinctively
turned and clasped his young wife in
his arms. He did not see the mare /;
he saw nothing but his wife's face,
and something struck terror to his
heart. His own was ashy gray at
that moment as his young wife's when
she turned her last appealing look
upon him and moved her lips. His
one prayer was that they might die
together. 1t seemed to them that all
the sound in the air and earth was
condensed and gathered into an aw-
full shrek. Earth and sky were OBJ
liberated. Dick Hope felt himself
lifted up and flung like a fake thro'
the air
When he recovered his senses he
was lying where he had prayed 10 be
in the river bottom, with bis wife
close beside him. The awful storm
did not divide them. The tornado,
like a raging beast, had simply taken
them up in It's teeth, 20 To speak,
tossed them aside, and pursued It's
path. Where they were lying the
water was 20 shOal that IL scarcely
covered them. Dick sat up and spoke
70 his wife. She did not answer.
Then he put one hand up inyolunta-
nly, ia a weak, helpless way. There
was blood On his face be could not
see; his eyes were full II sand. lie
struck himself 10 despair, and again
grasping his wife said in hoarse
voice, s'YOu are not dead, Mary"
Whether il was the water from the
river be dashed into his face Or the
gush Of tears that came 10 bis eyes
Dick does not know 70 this day, bat
suddenly bis eyes became clear, and
be could see bic wife lying with her
face next him, and the water washing
her long hair over her breast. He
lifted her up. He felt ber hands, her
cheek. Then suddenly be- summoned
al his remaining strength for one su-
preme effort, aDd dragged rather than
carried her up = the dry shelving
beach. Then sbs slowly pat her
hands up ~ her face and covered it.
Dick saw the tears ooursing down
her cheeks. Don't. don't, Mar 2"
he sad. Il cant help IL. am not
crying with pain or grief it's because
you are living, because ~ are both
spared"